Sen. Corker pushes back release of his budget proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WVLT) -- Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) says he now wants to wait until after President Barack Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) have had a chance to work out a fiscal reform package before he releases his own budget proposal.

In a statement released late last week, the recently re-elected Senator called on Congress to focus its "collective energy" on supporting the negotiations.

“Our office has spent the past year painstakingly drafting a fiscal reform package, but now is not the time for any of us, Republicans, Democrats, rump groups or gangs, to be publicly promoting our own plans," said Sen. Corker. "The entire Congress will be involved at some point, but right now the only two people who are likely to get a result by year’s end are President Obama and Speaker Boehner."

In July, Corker said he'd developed a plan to reform taxes and balance the federal budget, but he's not planning to release details until after the election. He told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that his plan will both cut entitlement spending and raise more money.

Even though Corker said he intended to keep his "soup to nuts" plan private until after the presidential election is settled, he said he submitted a draft for review by congressional budget staff. The Chattanooga Republican said he thinks his proposal can provide a path to compromise between Republicans who want to cut spending and Democrats who want to raise taxes.

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